Thinking of buying an AUDI S4 - 2000 model; any advice
Discussion
I could really do with some advice, if someone can help?
I have never owned an Audi before, let alone an S4 and have sold my Imprezza in the hope of getting something a little more comfortable and a little less problematic (and not to mention less expensive to run!)
I have found (in Budapest Hungary, as this is where I now live) an S4 from 2000 (2.7 liter model), 80,000km on the clock. I have asked to take it to an Audi Dealership to get them to do a whole range of combustion tests etc etc, before I buy. However, I was rather hoping some of you might have some first hand experience (and be less biased than an Audi dealership
).
What should I be looking out for? Are these reliable, or at this age am I going to run into expensive ongoing costs...I know it is difficult to answer as each car is different, but general consensus...? Thanks in advance
I have never owned an Audi before, let alone an S4 and have sold my Imprezza in the hope of getting something a little more comfortable and a little less problematic (and not to mention less expensive to run!)
I have found (in Budapest Hungary, as this is where I now live) an S4 from 2000 (2.7 liter model), 80,000km on the clock. I have asked to take it to an Audi Dealership to get them to do a whole range of combustion tests etc etc, before I buy. However, I was rather hoping some of you might have some first hand experience (and be less biased than an Audi dealership
). What should I be looking out for? Are these reliable, or at this age am I going to run into expensive ongoing costs...I know it is difficult to answer as each car is different, but general consensus...? Thanks in advance
There have been a few posts on here about these so a search might find some useful info for you. Also, have a look on rs246.com - there is a mine of info there.
I have recently bought one of these (a 1999 facelift Avant) and they are great cars. Pretty reliable on the whole but (and it is a big but) turbos have been known to go pretty randomly at anything from 50k to 150k miles and to replace them is £2k-£3k per turbo.
Mileage isn't so much a problem with them so buy on condition and look for a nice stack of receipts for work done. The car you are looking at is more than 5 years old so should have bad its belts and water pump replaced (80,000 miles or 5 years which ever is the sooner). This is a big service so I would want it to have been done already.
They are nice, solid cars which in stock form have plenty of power and torque. They are not reknowned for brilliant brakes or suspension though and if you are a very enthusiastic driver you might want to upgrade both (there are various options which aren't too expensive). It is also also very easy to modify the engine, for example you can get 320bhp out of it through a simple chip/remap although arguably put the turbos at greater risk. £6k or so of mods can turn the car into a 400bhp+ beast with the sort of suspension and brakes you would expect.
Best of all, no one notices them at all so you can leave them parked anywhere and don't attract unwanted attention on the road.
Edited:
There are some known weak spots which you should get Audi to check (a pressure test on the turbo system will show if there are any problems) e.g. F-hose, throttle body boot. A very useful guide is here: [url]http://data.rs246.com/Downloads/AudiS[/url]
>> Edited by billyb on Wednesday 17th May 12:19
I have recently bought one of these (a 1999 facelift Avant) and they are great cars. Pretty reliable on the whole but (and it is a big but) turbos have been known to go pretty randomly at anything from 50k to 150k miles and to replace them is £2k-£3k per turbo.
Mileage isn't so much a problem with them so buy on condition and look for a nice stack of receipts for work done. The car you are looking at is more than 5 years old so should have bad its belts and water pump replaced (80,000 miles or 5 years which ever is the sooner). This is a big service so I would want it to have been done already.
They are nice, solid cars which in stock form have plenty of power and torque. They are not reknowned for brilliant brakes or suspension though and if you are a very enthusiastic driver you might want to upgrade both (there are various options which aren't too expensive). It is also also very easy to modify the engine, for example you can get 320bhp out of it through a simple chip/remap although arguably put the turbos at greater risk. £6k or so of mods can turn the car into a 400bhp+ beast with the sort of suspension and brakes you would expect.
Best of all, no one notices them at all so you can leave them parked anywhere and don't attract unwanted attention on the road.
Edited:
There are some known weak spots which you should get Audi to check (a pressure test on the turbo system will show if there are any problems) e.g. F-hose, throttle body boot. A very useful guide is here: [url]http://data.rs246.com/Downloads/AudiS[/url]
>> Edited by billyb on Wednesday 17th May 12:19
[quote=teflonc]I could really do with some advice, if someone can help?
iam also looking to buy said car,mate of mine ran a kingfisher blue one for with 18 months with no problems before a nova boy racer ran into him (insurance write off).nice cars pretty quick .
has any body had any expensive problems with there car ??
iam also looking to buy said car,mate of mine ran a kingfisher blue one for with 18 months with no problems before a nova boy racer ran into him (insurance write off).nice cars pretty quick .
has any body had any expensive problems with there car ??
billyb thanks very much for that, greatly appreciated. He actually hasn't done the service, but we knew about that when discussing the price because he told us 
Least the guy was honest.
We have pretty much agreed to buy it, but will be dependent on our Audi Mechanic giving it the all clear. Thanks for the URL that was extremely helpful. If all goes to plan, I should collect it on Friday, so guess what I'll be up to this weekend
Thanks again, C
Least the guy was honest. We have pretty much agreed to buy it, but will be dependent on our Audi Mechanic giving it the all clear. Thanks for the URL that was extremely helpful. If all goes to plan, I should collect it on Friday, so guess what I'll be up to this weekend
Thanks again, C
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff